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Gridium’s interval-utility analytics flagged an abnormal baseload per square foot—Intuitive traced it to cleanroom air-change operations no one wanted to touch
Intuitive Surgical didn’t go looking to change cleanroom ventilation. The opportunity surfaced when interval utility data showed a baseload that didn’t align with how the space was actually being used.
After deploying Gridium’s software-only interval analytics, the team flagged unusually high base load per square foot in manufacturing buildings that house Class A cleanroom environments. “We immediately looked at the base load per square foot and were like, whoa—what’s going on here?” said Tom Arnold, CEO of Gridium.
The load traced back to continuous air-change requirements driven by fan filter units (FFUs). The systems were running at full rates around the clock—even on weekends, when staffing and activity dropped significantly.
The problem wasn’t a lack of controls capability. It was reluctance to adjust cleanroom conditions without hard evidence. “We’re just not messing with this. It’s manufacturing,” Arnold said, describing the prevailing mindset.
Instead of proposing control changes, the team focused on measurement. Interval utility data isolated the cleanroom load, and Intuitive funded particle counting sensors to understand whether weekend setbacks would compromise air quality.
The results were decisive. “The weekend run is just basically nothing—the air is so clean,” Arnold said, showing that particle levels remained well within acceptable limits even with reduced activity.
For Brian Larson, who leads facilities and energy at Intuitive Surgical, the work created internal permission to act. “This is just the beginning of the project,” he said. “It’s about building consensus and a business case for change in a sensitive environment.”
The takeaway: analytics didn’t automatically provide the answer—but they made a previously untouchable operational question fair game.
If you’d like to learn more, here are some ways to stay updated on stories like this:
- Watch the full presentation from NexusCon 2025
- Sign up for the Nexus Labs newsletter to get five similar stories for owners each Wednesday:
Intuitive Surgical didn’t go looking to change cleanroom ventilation. The opportunity surfaced when interval utility data showed a baseload that didn’t align with how the space was actually being used.
After deploying Gridium’s software-only interval analytics, the team flagged unusually high base load per square foot in manufacturing buildings that house Class A cleanroom environments. “We immediately looked at the base load per square foot and were like, whoa—what’s going on here?” said Tom Arnold, CEO of Gridium.
The load traced back to continuous air-change requirements driven by fan filter units (FFUs). The systems were running at full rates around the clock—even on weekends, when staffing and activity dropped significantly.
The problem wasn’t a lack of controls capability. It was reluctance to adjust cleanroom conditions without hard evidence. “We’re just not messing with this. It’s manufacturing,” Arnold said, describing the prevailing mindset.
Instead of proposing control changes, the team focused on measurement. Interval utility data isolated the cleanroom load, and Intuitive funded particle counting sensors to understand whether weekend setbacks would compromise air quality.
The results were decisive. “The weekend run is just basically nothing—the air is so clean,” Arnold said, showing that particle levels remained well within acceptable limits even with reduced activity.
For Brian Larson, who leads facilities and energy at Intuitive Surgical, the work created internal permission to act. “This is just the beginning of the project,” he said. “It’s about building consensus and a business case for change in a sensitive environment.”
The takeaway: analytics didn’t automatically provide the answer—but they made a previously untouchable operational question fair game.
If you’d like to learn more, here are some ways to stay updated on stories like this:
- Watch the full presentation from NexusCon 2025
- Sign up for the Nexus Labs newsletter to get five similar stories for owners each Wednesday:
This is a great piece!
I agree.